Our history

From 1992-2006, the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA) was the Kazakhstan field office of the US-based Eurasia Foundation. The independent Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA) in Kazakhstan was established in the region in 2005 with the aim of supporting civil society initiatives, entrepreneurship development, education, and good governance in Central Asia.

At the time, the work of the foundation was made possible by the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which supported the introduction of international standards in project management. As a result, EFCA today has extensive experience with fundraising, project management, and grant management.

Until 2006, EFCA was a grant-making organization. In 2006, EFCA in Kazakhstan registered as a local non-governmental organization with the status of a corporate foundation. With that, the foundation became a project-oriented organization funded by grants. We make a deliberate effort to maintain a diversified portfolio of donors, which includes international organizations and corporate donors. International project management standards (PMI) are at the foundation of our activities.

Our programs are driven by the priorities of Kazakhstani society, with an emphasis on regional projects in rural communities, implemented in partnership with government agencies and businesses.

The Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia implements more than 10 projects annually. In keeping with its legacy, EFCA strictly adheres to international standards. EFCA Kazakhstan works in all 14 regions of Kazakhstan, as well as in the cities of Astana and Almaty, with active projects in the spheres of:

youth and education,

support for vulnerable groups,

civil society development,

social entrepreneurship, and

and corporate social responsibility.

Despite being a non-profit, we apply a number of approaches from the business world: defining our niche, responding to the specific needs of our beneficiaries and donors, striving to be the best in the field, and working with a talented team committed to results.

We believe that our main competitive advantages are transparency, accountability, efficiency, and strong local and international experience. EFCA seeks to catalyze positive changes in society through effective programming.